Blue Bulls have mixed results at Youth Weeks

The Blue Bulls Academy Under-18 and Grant Khomo Under-16 teams had mixed results at their various Coca-Cola Youth Weeks. Both lost to Western Province in the events held in Worcester and Pretoria respectively. Here is a wrap of all their matches, courtesy of SARU Corporate Affairs.

Under 18 Academy team:

Day One:

Blue Bulls 31 (3), Boland 24 (7)The Blue Bulls scored two tries in the last five minutes to clinch a good win. Boland had the best of the exchanges in the first half and were leading deservedly at the break. If defense dominated the first 35 minutes, not so in the second as both teams scored some great tries, with the brace by Blue Bulls’ Lyle Marat the most telling as it first drew scores level and then won his team the match.Scorers:Blue Bulls 31 (3). Tries: Chevan Swart, Lylle Maart (2), Shakeel Fredericks. Conversions: Hendrik Mulder (4). Penalty: Mulder.Boland 24 (7).Tries: Jacobus Abel, Jaydrin Kotze (2). Conversions: Gevin Scheepers, Cleo Adams (2). Drop goal: Adams.

Day Two:

Western Province 17 (10), Blue Bulls 8 (3)Western Province outplayed the Blue Bulls in broken play and in the line-outs, but also defended like Trojans in their win over their traditional foe. Both teams have exciting and quick backs and used them well, but in the end it was a huge tackle by midfielder Taigh Schoor on the massive Blue Bulls lock Brenden Verster – with the try line begging – that typified the coastal team’s effort.A close match by two of the best teams at the week was eventually determined by the better use of scoring opportunities and team work. Three tries to one also tells its own story.Scorers: Western Province 17 (10). Tries: Calvin Nell, Michael Meyer, Mujaahid van der Hoven. Conversion: NellBlue Bulls 8 (3). Try: Carlo De Nysschen. Penalty: Hendrik Mulder.

Day Three:

Blue Bulls 7 (0), Eastern Province 7 (7)Both teams were desperate to make up for their disappointing shows on Tuesday, but in a well-matched clash found scoring difficult. The EP side showed more endeavour in the first half and was rewarded with the only points. The Blue Bulls pressed hard in the second half and scored the important converted try 13 minutes from time. Both sides tried their utmost for the winning points, but could not put themselves in a scoring position to deliver the final blow.Scorers:Blue Bulls 7 (0). Try: Carlo de Nysschen. Conversion: Hendrik Mulder. Eastern Province 7 (7). Try: Yomelela Keswa. Conversion: Frederick Mattheus

Under 16 Grant KhomoDay One:

Blue Bulls XV 62 (33) Border CD 3 (0)The Blue Bulls XV were impressive in all facets of their game against Border Country Districts as they powered their way to a 33-0 lead at the break and the highest score of the day. In total the Blue Bulls XV crossed the tryline 10 times, while they shut out the visitors on defence, which limited them to only a penalty for the match.Scorers:Blue Bulls XV – Tries: Calderon Levens (3), Denzel Liebenberg, Eduard Pretorius (2), Henro Conradie, Leon Pretorius, Lwandile Mabhongo, Tristan Janse van Vuuren. Conversions: Tristan Janse van Vuuren (6).Border CD – Penalty: Enrico Bokwe.

Blue Bulls 40 (27) SWD 19 (7)

Hosts the Blue Bulls showed that they could be a force to be reckoned with in the competition as they powered their way to a 40-19 victory against SWD. The hosts came out firing with their first try being scored three minutes into the match. They camped in the visitors half early on and earned the rewards with a 27-7 lead at the break thanks to effective performances by their forwards and backs. They built on this in the second half, despite SWD fighting back strongly, to stretch their score to 40 points.

Day Two:Blue Bulls XV 19 (7) Namibia 14 (14)The Blue Bulls XV staged a dramatic second half comeback against Namibia for their second victory in the tournament. Namibia had the first say with a try by back Jay-C Olivier and the Blue Bulls XV retaliated. But Namibia crossed the tryline again shortly before half time to take a 14-7 lead. The visitors, however, were unable to build on this in the second half as the Blue Bulls XV tightened up their defence and stepped up their attack, which allowed them to increase their try tally to three and secure the victory.Scorers:Blue Bulls XV – Tries: Carl Koch, Danie Rousseau, Emidio Cuna. Conversions: Tristan Janse van Vuuren.Namibia – Tries: Christo Pienaar, Jay-C Olivier. Conversions: Delron Brandt (2).

Blue Bulls 23 (12) Free State 10 (3)The Blue Bulls built on their strong showing in their opening match by registering their second win in the series against the Free State. The hosts applied good pressure on attack and supported this with a solid defensive effort, which allowed them to shut the Bloemfontein side out despite their strong scrummaging and determined attempts to force their way over the tryline and. In total the Blue Bulls scored three tries to only one by the visitors, while flyhalf Ruan de Swardt added a conversion, penalty and drop goal to keep the scoreboard ticking.Scorers:Blue Bulls – Tries: Louis Van der Schyff (2), Themba Mandlati. Conversion: Ruan De Swardt. Penalty: Ruan De Swardt. Drop Goal: Ruan De Swardt.Free State – Try: Dian Schoonees. Conversion: Rethabile Mzamo. Penalty: Rethabile Mzamo.

Day Three:Blue Bulls XV 20 (17) Valke 15 (10)The Blue Bulls XV finished the tournament on a high with their unbeaten record intact as they registered a hard-fought 20-15 victory against the Valke. The Blue Bulls XV powered their way to a 10-0 lead early in the match and added their second try a few minutes later. The Valke, however, hit back with a try in the dying seconds of the half to add to their earlier penalty to force their way back into the match. The second half was particularly hard fought as neither team gave an inch, with the Blue Bulls XV only adding a penalty to their score, while the Valke managed to score their second try. The penalty, however, was sufficient for the home team to hold onto the lead until the end of the match.Scorers:Blue Bulls XV - Calderon Levens, Eduard Pretorius. Conversions: Tristan Janse van Vuuren (2). Penalties: Tristan Janse van Vuuren (2).Valke – Tries: Jean Van der Linde, Marthinus Johannes Holtzhausen. Conversion: Marthinus Johannes Holtzhausen. Penalty: Marthinus Johannes Holtzhausen.

Western Province 26 (14) Blue Bulls 11 (3)Western Province were in top form in the final match of the day thanks to an effective game plan which involved retaining possession on attack and applying intense pressure on the hosts. With their pack and backline functioning well, the Cape side spent most of the match in the hosts’ half and penetrated the Blue Bulls defence at will, which earned them four well-worked tries. Such was the Blue Bulls’ struggle to make their presence felt they earned only a penalty in the first half for their efforts, while they managed to score a try and another penalty in the second half to take their score into double figures.Scorers:Western Province – Tries: Benjamin Momberg, Damian Willemse, Jade Fortune, Khanya Ncusane. Conversions: Gianni Lombard (3).Blue Bulls – Try: Luke Fortuin. Penalties: Ruan De Swardt (2).

Latest Comments

cenic says:
Bluebul, Which part of my post made you think that I got carried away??? It was tonque in the cheek stuff.
However I am a STAUNCH Bulls supporter and will always be optimistic and supportive of who ever coach or play for them..

Lourens says:
We have to jump on this opportunity, he will manage to teach the others allot in a very short time, not to mention what he will be able to do for us from the bench in the last 20min of each game. it will also work worth the rotational play of the Springboks every four games.